Aircraftman, Cairo (Home Posting)

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Aircraftman Leo Abse was posted to this country immediately after he had taken office in the Forces Parliament at Cairo at a time when he still had 18 months unexpired of the normal period of service in the Middle East; why he was kept under open arrest for 14 days awaiting his departure from Egypt, without any charge, pretext or explanation; and why the protest of the educational officer of his unit that his posting was detrimental to the educational work of his unit, which Abse was assisting, was ignored.

An Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief has full discretion to post an airman at any time if he considers such a posting to be in the interests of the Service, and Aircraftman Abse was posted by the A.O.C.-in-C., Middle East, in the exercise of this discretion. I am informed that he was not at any time placed under open arrest. It is understood that this airman had for three weeks prior to his posting been taking an educational class at his Unit, and his posting was no doubt a matter of regret to the Education Officer whom he was assisting. It was not, however, considered that this provided a good reason for varying the decision.

Would the right hon. Gentleman, firstly, say why the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief exercised this discretion? No doubt he had the power but I asked why he exercised it. Would he also explain, if this aircraftman was not kept under open arrest, why he was expressly informed by the officer in charge of the camp where he was kept waiting, that he was not to leave the camp because he was under open arrest?

When the Army authorities decided to close the Forces Parliament—of which the House has been informed at Question Time—a public protest was organised against the decision, in which this airman figured prominently. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief considered whether disciplinary action was called for. He decided, rightly, in my opinion, to take the view that this was really a case of misplaced zeal and not to take disciplinary action. He did however think it was in the interests of the Service that this man should be posted away from the Command.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, does his original answer mean, in regard to the powers vested in the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, that if an airman desires to be posted back to this country, all he has to do is to join the Forces Parliament in Cairo?

Was it not the case that the only protest organised by anybody was when an officer came round without notice and closed the Forces Parliament and the persons there voted, then and there, against such a decision by 600 to 1? If that is enough to post a good aircraftman back to England why is there anyone left in the Middle East?

I think the Air Officer Commanding weighed all these considerations before he decided on the action he took. I forgot to reply to a further question which the hon. and learned Gentleman asked me about the question of arrest. I did make particular inquiries into this question of arrest, and the Group Commander, the Station Commander, the Port and Transport Camp Commander and the Provost Marshal, all deny that Aircraftman Abse was ever under arrest, and no instructions were issued for his arrest.